Gas-generator



(No Model.)

J. M. GOLDSMITH.

GAS GENERATOR.

No. 476,261. Patented June 7, 1892.

' ator with the oil-tank and NrTnD STATES PATENT FFICE.

JACOB MORTIMER GOLDSMITH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GAS-G EN ERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 476,261, dated June 7, 1892.

Application filed January 23, 1891. Serial No. 378,816. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J AOOB MORTIMER GonnsMITH,a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Gener ators, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to make a gas-generator which will be portable and operate automatically to generate gas for fuel or illuminating purposes from crude petroleum or other oils containing gas and supplying the same to the place of use; and my invention consists in the features and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawing I have represented my improved gas-generator partly in elevation and partly in section.

In making my improved gas-generator or portable gas-worksl arrange a tank or reservoir A, adapted to hold the crude petroleum or other oil which it is intended to convert into gas. This tank or reservoir is placed in any convenient position, but preferably upon a stand or table B. In the drawing Ihave represented this stand as adapted to support and sustain the operative parts of my genergas-holder on clifferent planes; but it is obvious that the parts do not need to be arranged upon the same table or holding-plate and that the oil-tank, if desired, maybe in a separate room from the other parts of the generator without ai fecting the operation.

In proper and convenient position I locate a retort U, in which the oil is subjected to a high temperature and vaporized or converted into gas. This retort' may be of any desired kind, and I have therefore merely shown it in elevation and shall not stop to minutely describe its details or arrangement. The retort is preferably heated by a gas burner or jet D, arranged in proper position under the same, so that the burning gas or jet will opcrate to heat the retort to the required temperature to convert the oil into vapor or gas.

In convenient and proper position with relation to the gas-generating retort I arrange a gas-holder E. This holder is arranged in a water tank or receptacle E, which is adapted to be filled or partially filled with water, as

bottom, so that the water generating retort.

may be desired. The holder is open at the in the tank may rise in it to the height that it stands in the tank. The top of the holder extends a desired distance above the water, so that a space will be provided above the water for the introduction and accumulation of gas.

In order to supply oil to the retort for the generation of the gas and to shut off the same when the desired quantity of gas is accumulated and to continue the operation indefinitely as long as oil remains in the tank or reservoir, I arrange a valve 1' in the oil-supply pipe between the oil-reservoir and the gas- As this valve is turned in the one direction orthe other it admits or shuts off the supply of oil to be generated intogas. As the oil is admitted into the retort and converted into gas it passes up through a pipe F into a chamber F. This chamber is formed by arranging a receptacle E under the bottom, sustaining the Water in the tank E and providing it with a vertical partition f, so as to divide it into two compartments.

These compartments are again divided by horizontal partitions f,

which are preferably inclined toward holes f which enable the particles which may condense, as is likely to occur in the case of all gases, from the gas or vapor admitted into the chamber F through the pipe F, or into the chamber F from the accumulation of gas in the holder, as hereinafter described, to drop or pass down into the lower portions of the compartments F and F The vertical partition f is arranged slightly above the bottom or the receptacle, which is preferably'depressed beneath it, so that as the oil or water condenses and passes down into the bottom of the receptacle a water or oil trap or seal will be formed at the bottom of the partition, which will prevent the gas flowing into the chambers F or F from escaping into the other compartment. As this trap is formed either by water or oil placed in the receptacle at the commencement of the operation or by the accumulation of condensation, the gas admitted into the chamber F will pass up througha pipe G into the space G above the water under the top or dome of the holder E. As the gas is generated in the retort and passes up into the gas-reservoir G its accumulation will cause the holder E to be raised or lifted up in the tank E. From this reservoir the gas passes down through a pipe or outlet-passage G2 into the receptacle F whence it is carried through a pipe H to the place of use, where it may be utilized for fuel or illuminating purposes, and also a portion of it through a pipe H, which leads to the gas burner or jet under the retort to supply such burner with fuel to keep the retort sufficiently'heated to generate gas from the oil flowinginto it. It will of course be understood that the pipe -1, leading to the gasburners in the house or other place where the gas is to be used, will be connected with risers in the usual way. Any condensation that may have a tendency to be carried through this pipe to the place of use will therefore be caused to flow back into the chamber F and down through the hole f, to be caught or trapped with other condensation. The pipe H, leading to the burner under the retort, also preferably opens into the chamber F above the horizontal partition f, so that no condensation can be carried into it, and so that it will draw the gas for supplying the burner under the retort direct from the gasreservoir, and thus insure a supply of gas to the burner that shall constantly be of uniform quality and applied under uniform pressure. This uniformity of quality and pressure is also secured in the gas which is carried through the pipe II to the place of use, so that if it be applied to burners for illuminating purposes a constant, steady, and uninterrupted fiow of gas will be secured and fluctuation or variation in the quality of the light will be avoided and prevented.

A hood 9 is preferably arranged over the pipes G and G to prevent any condensed particles from passingdownthese pipes from the body of gas above the hood in the reservoir. A pipe G is also preferably arranged in the bottom of the gas-reservoir G, that leads into the chamber F This pipe is arranged at the lowest point in the bottom of the gasreservoir, so that particles of condensation will naturally flowinto it and down into the chamber F and through the hole f in the hori-.

zontal partition in such chamber and drop to the bottom of the receptacle E where it will add to the fluid forming the trap or seal between the chambers in such receptacle. A pipe II also preferably leads from the bottom of the receptacle E to carry the condensed oil-vapor back into the oil-reservoir A, where it may be again carried through the generating-retort and converted into gas. By having a depression under the lower edge of the vertical partition fonlysufficient oil need be retained in the receptacle E to fill the depression and form the trap or seal. In the ab sence of such depression the pipe [I should be extended up a desired distance above the bottom of the receptacle, so that a sufficient quantity of oil would remain in it to form an effective trap.

In order to automatically and alternately shut off and admit the supply of oil to the retort and the supply of gas to the holder, I arrange a tube I, nicely balanced in a standard 2', partly filled with an unstable liquid of any desired kind that may readily flow from one end to the other as the tube may incline in one direction or the other. A rod 1' connects with the handle of the valve i located in the oil-supply pipe, so that as the end of the tube I, to which the rod is attached, is raised or lowered such valvewill be automatically opened or closed. On the other end of the tube I is arranged a rod 1 connecting with the handle of a valve 11 in the gas-supply pipe F, so that as the end of the tube to which the rod i is connected is raised or lowered the valve 2' will be opened or closed. A rod J extends up from one end of the tube I by the side of the gas-holder and is provided with two stops j and j. An arm K extends out from the holder and moves up and down on the rod J as the holder moves. As gas is generated and passes into the holder it will be raised and the arm K will move up the rod .I until it comes into contact with the stop j, when it will raise such rod and the end of the tube with which it is connected until it brings such end slightly above a horizontal line, which point is reached just as the holder is receiving its full supply of gas. The unstable liquid in the pipe I will immediately flow to the other end of the tube and cause it to fall to its lowest position. This will pull down the rod 71 and push up the rod i so that the valves 2' in the oil-inlet pipe and the valve 1' in the gas-inlet pipe will be simultaneously closed and prevent more oil from flowing into the retort or gas into the holder until such valves are opened. As the gas flows out of the holder through the supply-pipes to the place of use the holder will immediately begin to sink, and presently the arm K will come into contact with the stop j, when the rod J will be carried down with it. This will depress the elevated end of the tube I until just as the holder is about reaching its lowest position with the gas approaching exhaustion; but before this happens the end of the tube to which the rod J is connected will befdepressed to a point slightly below a horizontal. This will cause the unstable liquid in the tube to fiow back toward that end and cause it to drop immediately to its lowest position. This will pull the rod 11 down and push the rod 'i upand open the valve 6 in the oil-inlet pipe and the valve i in the gas-inlet pipe, so that immediately oil will begin to flow again into the retort and gas again into the holder. As the holder again rises it repeats the operation above described, so thatas it becomes filled the oil and gas are again shut off, when it immediately begins to sink. ,As the gas is exhausted for the purpose of use and as the holder descends it willagain repeat the operation by which the valves are opened to admit more oil and gas. In this way the oil and gas valves will constantly be opened and closed, so that the operation will proceed indefilnitely as long as oil is contained in the tan I.

It will often happen that the supply of gas for use would be turned off and the burner under the generating-retort put out at a time when the gas-holder is filled with gas. In such a case, if there should be leakage of gas from the holder or material loss therefrom arising from other causes it might happen that the holder would become exhausted and sink down to its lowest position and as it descended open the valves 2' and 2' This would permit the oil to flow into the retort and on through the gas-pipe without being converted into gas, so that the holder might become wholly or partially filled with oil. In order to prevent any accident of this kind, I provide an automatic safety cut-oft or attachment that will be put into operation in case of the contingency above explained occurring, but not otherwise. To effect this I arrange a pivoted lever L, preferably under the stand or table on which the operative parts are located, connecting by a rod Z at one end with the handle of a valve F in the oilsupply pipe and being provided at the other end with a rod Z, extending up by the side of the gas-holder. This rod is provided with a stop Z which is engaged by a rod 70, depending from the arm K on the holder when the holder has descended to acertain point. The stop Z however, is located at a point on the rod Z that will bring it below the stop j onthe rod J, so that in the normal operation of the parts the arm K as the holder descends will engage the stop j and carry it down sufficiently to tip the tube I and open the valves for the admission of oil and gas, and begin to rise again before the rod 7c has engaged the stop Z" to carry the rod Z with the end of the lever L, to which it is connected, down to operate the valve F; but when the holder in descending has opened the valves t and 2' and no gas is generated and admitted to carry it up again it will continue its descent and engage the stop Z and operate the lever L, so as to close the valve F in the oil-supply pipe. In this way I am able to prevent the admission of oil through the pipes when the retort is not heated to convert it into gas, and to automatically shut off the supply of oil when the conditions do not exist for converting it into gas.

In order to gage the supply or stream of oil that passes through the supply-pipe to the retort, I arrange a graduating-valve Z which may be of the usual form and construction and which should be set at the proper point at the commencement of operations.

To supply the gas with air as it is carried into the holder, I arrange a pipe M, entering the gas-inlet pipe, through which air may be drawn or injected to mingle with the gas. WVhere it is desired that this air should be heated,I inclose the retort in a jacket N and carrying a pipe M (shown in dotted lines) through the top of the jacket to the air-inlet pipe. This enables me to utilize the heat of the retort that would otherwise be wasted for heating the supply of air mingled with the gas. This insures an equable temperature for the gas, notwithstanding changes in the outside temperature resulting from change of season or change of climate.

To cause oil to readily flow into the retort, I prefer to subject it to air-pressure, and to that end have shown a pump P for forcing air into the tank to secure the desired pressure.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a gas-generator, the combination of an oil-supply tank, a gas-generating retort, a receptacle filled with fiuid,a gas-holder arranged and means for automatically operating the same, comprising a lever L, a link Z, directly connecting one end of such lever to the stem of the shut-cit valve, a rod Z, extending from the other end of the lever to a point where it may be acted upon by the gas-holder when it sinks beyond the desired point, and pipes conveying oil from the tank to the gas-generator and gas from the generator to the gas-holder, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a receptacle filled with fluid, a gas-holder arranged therein and constructed to rise as it is filled with gas and to sink as the gas is exhausted therefrom, a pipe G for conveying gas into the gas-holder, a pipe G for conveying gas out of the gas-holder, a pipe G opening into the gas-holder on a lower plane than that of the openings of the gas inlet and outlet pipes to carry off particles of condensation, means for carrying the particles of condensation to such pipe, a chamber F into which the pipes G and G which carry the gas and the particles of condensation from the gas-holder, open, a pipe or pipes leading from such chamber to convey the gas to the place of use, and pipes conveying oil from the tank to the gas-generator and gas from the generator to the gas-holder, substantially as described.

3. In a gas-generator, the combination of an oil-supply tank, a gas-generating retort, a gasholder, a chamber F intermediate the retort and the holder into which the gas is introduced from the retort and from which it passes to the holder, a pipe leading from the retort to such chamber and a pipe leading from such chamber to the holder, a chamberF intermeing oil from the tank to the gas-generator and (liate the holder and the place of use, into gas from the generator to the gas-holder, sub- 10 which the gas is introduced from the holder staniially as described. and from which it asses to the lace of use, 4 5 the partition F, segarating the (ghambers F MOR FIMER GOLDSMITH F partitions f in said chambers F and F Witnesses: cutting off portions thereof for the reception THOMAS A. BANNING, of particles of condensation, and pipes convey- EPHRAIM BANNING. 

